Kyrie Irving Plans to Play in Portland on Back-to-Back Amid Mavericks Injuries
After leading the Dallas Mavericks to a gritty 98-89 victory over the Phoenix Suns, Kyrie Irving confirmed he will play in the second night of a back-to-back against the Portland Trail Blazers.
“For sure, bro,” Irving said. “We can’t drop any games. This part of the season is where teams start to separate or fall behind.”
The Mavericks overcame the absence of Luka Dončić (calf strain) and Dereck Lively II (ankle sprain) on Friday, riding Irving’s 20-point performance and key contributions from Daniel Gafford (16 points) and Maxi Kleber (15 points, seven rebounds). Spencer Dinwiddie added 15 points as Dallas held off Kevin Durant’s 35-point effort for Phoenix.
Dallas Mavericks Managing Key Injuries
While Dončić remains sidelined, Lively traveled with the team and could return soon. However, his availability against Portland remains unclear. DallasHoopsJournal.com will have additional updates closer to the game.
It remains to be seen if the NBA will look into punishing any players involved in the altercation that involved a punch being thrown. Naji Marshall, Jusuf Nurkić, and P.J. Washington were ejected in the third quarter of Friday’s game. Usually, when a player connects on a punch, it comes with at least a one-game suspension.
“It was tough because we lost two players in that moment,” Kleber said, referencing the Suns game. “But I gotta watch it and see what happens.”
Gafford anchored the paint in Lively’s absence, and Kleber highlighted the team’s ability to stick together and execute the game plan.
“We’ve got to keep our composure, play the plan that we had, no matter what,” Kleber said. “The next guy’s got to step up anyway, and that’s what we did. We stuck together, played hard, and made the right decisions consistently, especially on the defensive end, which helped us to get the win.”
Kyrie Irving Providing Steady Leadership
Kyrie Irving’s leadership has been crucial with Dončić sidelined, setting the tone early with 12 points in the first quarter against Phoenix. Irving’s presence and poise carried the Mavericks despite cooling off in the second half.
“It might as well be the old NBA where you just have to grind it out,” Irving said. “You have to take the will of the other team and make sure they don’t make a run towards the end of the game. Which they had an opportunity to do, but we stayed with them.”
Dallas has leaned on balanced scoring and strong defense, reinforcing their identity as it navigates injuries.
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks continue their road trip in Portland, aiming to sustain their momentum. Lively’s potential return could provide a boost, while Irving remains focused on keeping Dallas in the upper tier of the Western Conference standings.
“It is very important, man. I don’t take it for granted at all. I think I have made it more of an emphasis this year,” Irving said. “Connecting with my tribe out here. Paying their hard-earned money. Parents paying their hard-earned money to come see me play. I just try to be in as many games as possible. Try to be as available as possible. Just make sure they have a good show, man. Especially on the road. They don’t get a chance to see me all the time.”
